Bowler&#39;s weighted counterbalancer



Sept. 22, 1964 F. s. MATERIA 3,149,839

BOWLERS WEIGHTED COUNTERBALANCER Filed April 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.5

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BOWLER'S WEIGHTED COUNTERBALANCER Filed April 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

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United States Patent 3,149,839 BUWLERS WEIGHTED COUNIERBALANQER Flora S. Materia, 302 S. 2nd St, Hampton, Va. Filed Apr. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 188,629 6 Claims. (Cl, 273-54) This invention comprises a novel and useful bowlers counterbalancer and more particularly relates to a glovelike article adapted to be worn on the other hand and wrist of a bowler in order to balance the weight of a bowling ball during the act of bowling.

The weight of bowling balls, particularly in the case of children and lady bowlers often imparts an undesirable or uncomfortable strain to the body tending to pull it to one side from its vertical erect position. This distortion or strain of the body during the act of bowling frequently interferes with the control and accuracy of the bowler. In a natural effort to overcome the unbalance created in the body by the weight of the bowling ball during the act of delivering the ball, the bowler frequently thrusts his other hand and arm laterally to one side. This effort to counterbalance the weight of the ball, is, however, frequently unsuccessful or at best incomplete particularly where bowlers of small stature or strength are concerned.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a simple but effective means for overcoming the above-described condition and enable the bowler to naturally maintain despite the weight of the bowling ball a normally erect posture of the body during the act of delivering the ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide a counterbalancer in accordance with the preceding object which shall be of a simple inexpensive construction, and yet one which can be readily and easily applied to or removed from the hand of the bowler.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a counterbalancer in accordance with the preceding objects which may be readily employed by right handed or left handed bowlers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a counterbalancer whose total weight may be readily varied through the use of removable and interchangeable weight elements removably received in individual pockets in the device.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a counterbalancer in which a variable number of weight elements may be adjustably positioned upon the hand and/ or wrist portion of the bowler to enable the obtaining of a total counterbalancing weight equal to the weight of different bowling balls.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of a glove-like character in accordance with the preceding objects which consisting of a padded panel of pliable material may be comfortably applied to and worn upon the hand and wrist of the bowler.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the counterbalancer of this invention is worn upon the left hand of a bowler whose right hand is gripping the ball prior to delivery of the same;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, parts being broken away, of the counterbalancer of this invention when spread out prior to its application to the hand of the bowler;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the counterbalancer taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3; and,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of a series of weight elements which are removably, interchangeably and selectively applied to the device.

Reference is made first to FIGURE 1 wherein it will be seen that numeral 10 designates a bowling ball which is being gripped by the right hand 12 of a bowler and which shows the counterbalancer of this invention indicated generally by the numeral 14 as applied to the left hand 16 of the bowler. Although the bowling ball is of the type commonly employed for duckpins, it will be understood that the device is equally applicable to the much larger balls commonly employed for ten pins, and the device is inherently capable of being adjusted as to weight in order to effectively counterbalance the weight of any type and size of bowling ball.

The principle involved in this invention is that by applying to the hand and wrist on the off-side of the bowler a weight equal to that of the bowling ball carried by the bowlers hand during the act of delivering the ball, the usual twisting or bending strain applied to the trunk of the bowler by carrying the weight of the ball solely at one side of the bowler will be completely overcome. This in turn permits a much easier and rhythmic motion of the bowler during the delivery of the ball thereby contributing to his comfort as well as promoting the accuracy and control of the delivery.

The counterbalancer 14 set forth and claimed herein may be equally applied to the right or the left hand of the bowler as desired.

Referring now especially to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the counterbalancer 14 consists of a pliable panel 20 of a durable material such as canvas or the like and which as shown is preferably cushioned or padded. Thus, as will be seen from FIGURE 3, the panel 20 includes a pair of substantially coextensive sheets 22 and 24- which are joined or seamed along their marginal coterminous edges as at 26, the sheet 22 being considered the back or outer face of the device, while the sheet 24 may be considered as the inner or palm surface of the panel. Disposed between and secured between these sheets is a layer 28 of any suitable cushioning material.

Referring again more specifically to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the panel 20 is T-shaped in configuration consisting of a hand portion 30 which comprises the stem of the T and a wrist portion 32 which comprises the crossarm of the T. These portions are preferably of integral or unitary construction although in some instances they may be separately formed and joined together as desired.

Disposed upon each of the outer or back faces of the sheet 22 of the hand and wristportions 30 and 32 is a set of pockets 34, while a similar set of pockets 36 is provided upon the outer or back surface of the wrist portion 32. These pockets extend longitudinally of the device, that is, in the direction of the fingers of the wearer, and are disposed in a side-by-side relation. Conveniently, for this purpose, as shown in FIGURE 3, another sheet of material may be secured to the sheet 22 as by seams 38 to provide the desired pockets.

Each of these pockets is adapted to receive in a readily removable manner a weight element such as that indicated by the numeral 40 in FIGURE 5. Conveniently, this element may be slid into an open end of the pocket, there being fastening means such as the snap fasteners 42 of any conventional design to releasably close the pocket inlets. Similar closure means may be provided for the set of pockets 34 on the hand portion of the counter-balancer, and these last-mentioned fastening means, not shown, may be provided at either end of the pockets 34.

As so far described it will now be apparent that when viewing the counterbalancer of FIGURE 1, that any desired number of the weight elements 40 may be utilized thus giving a desired total weight to the counterbalance which will equal or bear some desired fixed relation to the weight of the bowling ball 10. Further, inasmuch as each of the weights is interchangeably received in a pocket, the weights may be grouped in various distributions or patterns across the back face of the device over either the wrist or hand portions thereof or both in order to provide any desired weight distribution upon the hand and wrist of the user.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 it will be seen that there is provided between the pockets 34 of the hand portion and 36 of the wrist portion a relatively narrow transverse zone or area as at 44. This area is preferably disposed at the wrist joint so that the palm and wrist portions and their associated weight elements may freely flex with the corresponding hand and wrist of the wearer.

Fastening means are provided for detachably securing the counterbalance in place upon the hand of the user. Thus, for the wrist portion 32 there are provided a pair of straps 46 and 48 which extend through suitable loops in the panel and by means of which the wrist portion may be caused to either partially or entirely encircle the wrist of the wearer for comfortably securing the padded panel thereto. At the free or opposite end of the hand portion 30, there are provided other fastening means. These other fastening means consist of a series of loops or open sleeves 50 which project from the end of the hand portion 30 in proper position to each receive, as shown in FIGURE 1, a finger of the wearer. In this manner the counterbalancer is secured to the fingers, the wrist and the forearm of the wearer as shown in FIGURE 1.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bowlers counterbalance consisting of a padded panel of a pliable material adapted to be fastened to the free hand and wrist of a bowler, said panel including a hand portion and a wrist portion, said hand portion being of a Width substantially equal to the lateral width of the hand, said wrist portion being wider than said hand portion and substantially equal to the circumference of the wrist for engagement thereabout, adjustable weights removably mounted on said hand portion, adjustable weights removably mounted on said wrist portion, and fastener means for securing said panel to the hand and wrist of a bowler with the hand portion overlying the back of the hand and with the wrist portion encircling the wrist, said weights being spaced above and below that portion of the panel corresponding to the wrist joint so as to allow for a free flexing of the bowlers hand.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel includes a plurality of pockets, and said weights consist of a plurality of elements selectively and removably received in said pockets whereby to vary both the total weight of the counterbalance and also the weight distribution upon the latter.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a fastener for releasably closing each pocket.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pockets are disposed upon the side of said panel which is remote from the hand.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pockets extend longitudinally upon the hand and wrist portions in side-by-side relation.

6. The combination of claim 1 including a set of longitudinally extending pockets disposed in side-by-side relation upon the back of said hand portion and a corresponding similarly arranged set of pockets on the back of the wrist portion, said weights comprising a plurality of elongated elements interchangeably and selectively received each in a pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,939 Fredrikson Oct. 7, 1913 1,729,209 Curtice Sept. 24, 1929 2,011,362 Hayward Aug. 13, 1935 2,187,987 Sherrick Jan. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 200,436 Great Britain July 12, 1923 97,224 Austria Jan. 15, 1924 509,276 Great Britain July 13, 1939 

1. A BOWLER''S COUNTERBALANCE CONSISTING OF A PADDED PANEL OF A PLIABLE MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE FASTENED TO THE FREE HAND AND WRIST OF A BOWLER, SAID PANEL INCLUDING A HAND PORTION AND A WRIST PORTION, SAID HAND PORTION BEING OF A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LATERAL WIDTH OF THE HAND, SAID WRIST PORTION BEING WIDER THAN SAID HAND PORTION AND SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WRIST FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREABOUT, ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HAND PORTION, ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID WRIST PORTION, AND FASTENER MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PANEL TO THE HAND AND WRIST OF A BOWLER WITH THE HAND PORTION OVERLYING THE BACK OF THE HAND AND WITH THE WRIST PORTION ENCIRCLING THE WRIST, SAID WEIGHTS BEING SPACED ABOVE AND BELOW THAT PORTION OF THE PANEL CORRESPONDING TO THE WRIST JOINT SO AS TO ALLOW FOR A FREE FLEXING OF THE BOWLER''S HAND. 